China Launches High-precision Greenhouse Gas Detection Earth Satellite

China Launches High-precision Greenhouse Gas Detection Earth Satellite

A Chinese Long March-4C carrier rocket sent a satellite for high-precision greenhouse gas detection within planet Earth's atmosphere into the preset orbit on Friday, April 17, 2026. The rocket blasted off at 12:10 (Beijing Time) from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center (JSLC) in northwest China.

The Earth is warmed by sunlight, causing its surface to radiate heat. This is then mostly absorbed by greenhouse gases. The five most abundant greenhouse gases in Earth's atmosphere are water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone. Unlike other gases, greenhouse gases absorb the radiations that a planet emits, resulting in the greenhouse effect. The greenhouse effect occurs when heat-trapping gases in a planet's atmosphere prevent the planet from losing heat to space, raising its surface temperature.

The Long March 4 (LM-4) rocket family or Chang Zheng 4 (CZ-4) rocket family is an expendable launch system within the Long March series and is operated by the People's Republic of China. Three configurations currently exist: Long March 4A, Long March 4B, and Long March 4C.

Note: Long March-4C rocket cooling tiles are shed by design after liftoff when they are no longer needed.

The Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center (JSLC) in nortwestern China was founded in 1958. It was the first of China's four spaceports. The launch center has been the focus of many of China's historic space ventures, including the country's first satellite Dong Fang Hong I in 1970 and their first crewed space mission, Shenzhou V, on October 15, 2003. JSLC is now a home for many new Chinese commercial space launch firms.

Video Credit: CGTN

Duration: 30 seconds

Date: April 17, 2026

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